This all started with a massive home renovation which became complicated by breast cancer but now is more about my house, my life, my children, drinking wine, and slowly losing my mind...depending on the day.

Monday, June 30, 2008

Satchel and I are heading off to Halifax tomorrow morning.

I'm in the middle of packing and I really hate packing. And to make matters worse, I'm PMSing. I can barely get dressed for work during this time of the month so trying to figure out 6 days worth of clothes is INSANE! I'm almost in tears!

Plus I didn't get much sleep again last night. True Paul WAS snoring again with that cute little catch he does at the end of each snort, but I can't even blame my night of insomnia on that - annoying as it is.

Perhaps the excitement of the trip kept me awake or the desperate need for a vacation now that cult day has passed is taking its toll. I don't know. But I certainly hope to catch up while in Halifax, sharing a room with Satchel who sleeps very quietly and breathing in the salty fresh Atlantic air.

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Today was the last day of school. A moment of triumph for the children and panic for the parents as we try to figure out what to do with kids when we have to face work in the morning and camps don't start until Monday.

I walked into the schoolyard to find Jakob gleefully jumping into the biggest puddle in the schoolyard, courtesy of a blocked drain. It was only after he drenched himself that he realized he really HATES being wet.

I tried to be sympathetic but after his screeching and crying and pulling on my arm because LOOK AT HIS SHOES, LOOK AT HIS SOCKS, LOOK AT HIS SHORTS, LOOK AT HIS T-SHIRT and finally EVEN THE BASEBALL HAT HAS WATER ON IT, could only muster minimal sympathy and say "But it's so much fun to be wet! And what did you expect, you were jumping in a small pond! Of course you're going to get wet."

This got me absolutely nowhere.

Then I left him in the schoolyard barefoot and wet (but in the care of a friend) to go home and get his dry clothes and crocs. He was grateful for the crocs, but even happier because he had been given Starburst which made even walking home in damp clothing completely bearable.

Satchel had a fabulous day - spent entirely in the park with his class, armed with a watergun. Doesn't get any better than that.

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Monday, June 16, 2008

The results from the biopsy came back benign. BUT, the charming doctor said, there is always a BUT and that means a lumpectomy and depending on the type of tumor a second surgery.

But (my but) all I heard and cared was that the cyst is benign and I won't be needing chemo or radiation, thank you very much!

The yucky bit is that an hour or two before the surgery I have to have a mammogram and during the mammogram they will stick a wire into my breast which will be used to lead the surgeon to the tumor and then removed with it.

I turned to Paul and said sometimes it really sucks to be me.

Brenda just dropped off a bottle of champagne and a flower to celebrate and after I finish cleaning the kitchen, folding the laundry, finishing the school newsletter - I will be cracking that baby open!

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Thank you to everyone for your support - it means the world to me to have such great friends and family.

I am such a bag of nerves and it has all caught up with me today as I alternate between breaking down in tears and wanting to throw up. Fortunately having a family film day watching Kungfu Panda was a good distraction and I have been promised something to help me sleep by very VERY good neighbours and friends.

But I meet with my oncologist tomorrow morning and will write about the results after I receive them, keeping my fingers crossed that the cyst turns out to be benign.

Monday, June 09, 2008

Sunday, June 08, 2008

Driving the new car has been fabulous but I'm unsure of what to do with my right hand now that I no longer have to spend the entire time shifting gears. Or my left leg since there is no clutch to constantly bear down on.

My right hand feels agitated with its lack of purpose in the car - perhaps I should start drinking coffee so that it doesn't start acting out by messing with the radio channels or pushing random buttons...for example the seat warming buttons now that temperatures have hit 32*.

Tomorrow I meet up with my oncologist to find out the results of the MRI I had two weekends ago. Like my right hand I'm feeling a little agitated since one of the many things I have been so rudely awaken to after being diagnosed with breast cancer is that I can't totally trust my body - that there just might be something silently lurking about, waiting to wreak havoc on my life.

Of course my ever optimistic side reminds me to stop being a drama queen and everything will be fine. Which I will write about tomorrow.

But fabulous things have happened today even though it's not even noon.

The first, while walking Satchel to his final swim class, was passing by our old rental house and finding my patio umbrella stand sitting outside by the sidewalk - as if it was waiting for me to stroll by that morning and reclaim it. And it is still in fantastic condition considering it's now been 18 months since we left it behind!

Plus it's from Caban and I'm still not through my mourning period since the store closed down.

A quick call to Paul and it is now safely back in our yard where it belongs.

The second great thing is that Satchel passed his Red Cross Level 8 swim class and is ready to start Level 9 - he really is a beautiful and elegant swimmer.

And finally while stopping by Loblaws to pick up a snack for Satch and bandages for both our feet because the crocs that I have now worn for a couple of years have decided to tear into me, and Satchel's brand new ones are also protesting and drawing blood, were the fantastic knives I found in clearance for 1/2 price and will now replace the ones which I really wouldn't recommend anyone using, and also a roasting pan with a rack for $9!

The last bit of good news, held over from Friday since I have been a bit delinquent in writing (I blame the new car), is that Satchel and I both passed our first guitar test with flying colours!